Contact Persons

Help, Opportunity and

Progress through
Education Program
(HOPE)

Drug Court Specialized

Docket
of the
* Judge Becky L. Doherty
Presiding Judge PORTAGE COUNTY
HOPE Program COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
330.297.3861

Developed in collaboration with the

Portage County Mental Health and
* Theresa Spiker Recovery Board, Compass Recovery
HOPE Coordinator Center, Townhall II, and the Portage
Portage County Adult Probation County Court of Common Pleas.
Department
330.297.3650

Portage County
Court of Common Pleas
203 West Main St.
Ravenna, Ohio 44266
330.297.3861

JUDGE BECKY L. DOHERTY

Presiding
 Overview
The Help, Opportunity and Progress
through Education (HOPE) Program was
developed in order to assist individuals
with qualifying substance use disorders
who come into contact with the adult
criminal justice system.
A variety of services are available to meet
the individual’s specific needs: a chemical
dependency assessment to determine
individual, specific treatment needs,
intensive substance abuse treatment,
weekly random drug testing, weekly
meeting with the HOPE Judge upon
program entry, Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT), mental health and
psychiatric care, Theft Intervention
Prevention Program, SCRAM bracelet,
educational, employment, vocational
support, and links to social service
agencies.
Goals
• To ensure participants remain
drug free.
• To introduce new ways to live a
clean and sober lifestyle.
• To improve familial and social
relationships.
• To create a healthier lifestyle for
the participant.
• To prepare the participant to
lead a law-abiding life upon
completion of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
• Portage County Resident
• Must be diagnosed with a moderate or
severe Substance Use Disorder
according to the DSM-5
• Adult 18 years of age or older
• Must meet both written legal and
clinical eligibility criteria
• Track I- Intervention in Lieu of
Conviction: An applicant must meet
the written legal criteria of
Intervention in Lieu as set forth in
Ohio Revised Code Section 2951.041
Track II- Post-Conviction: An
applicant charged with a felony of the
Third, Fourth or Fifth Degree not
otherwise meeting the criteria for
Intervention in Lieu of Conviction
• Persons charged with felony OVI,
Trafficking in Drugs, sex crimes,
crimes involving the use of any
weapon and crimes involving children
as victims are ineligible
• Recommendation for program
participation from Prosecutor, Judge,
Defense Counsel, Defendant,
Probation Department and/or trained
professional
• Defendant desires and agrees to
voluntarily participate in the HOPE
Program, with program understanding
and consequences for failure to comply
• Defendant must plead guilty to offense
and undergo an Eligibility
Investigation (EI) to determine
eligibility
• Approval of EI and acceptance into
HOPE Program by the Judge
• Defendant is placed on probation for a
minimum of 16 months as a condition
of the HOPE Program.
• The charges will be dismissed and
eligible for sealing upon program
completion (ILC cases only).